CMU graduates urged to embrace change ‘with open arms’
Published:Friday | November 17, 2023 | 12:11 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
The graduating class of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) was implored yesterday to maintain a positive outlook on life as they brace themselves for a challenging post-graduate journey.
Nazilia Simone Phillips, president of the Shipping Association of Barbados, who delivered the keynote address at the graduation ceremony, which took place at the National Indoor Sports Centre, said that although the task of staying focused amid adversity was a “tricky” one, especially as distractions could be found everywhere in life, it was imperative that they trained their minds to stay the course towards further success.
“Life after university is like trying to fold a fitted sheet- it might seem impossible at first but eventually [you’ll] figure it out,” she said, reminding them to expect the unexpected and to not worry about whether their “life plan resembles more of a doodle than a full chart”.
CAREER IN SHIPPING
Phillips’ career in the shipping industry began in 2000 as a receptionist at RM Jones and Company Limited. Her passion for the industry has seen her holding several other positions across various companies since then, including her representation of the Companía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV), a Chilean shipping company that is currently the largest of its type in Latin America, and consolidators from the United States, Canada, and Trinidad.
Years later, she became the first female president of the Shipping Association of Barbados. She also serves as a member of the General Council of the Caribbean Shipping Association.
In her address, she stressed the importance of embracing change “with open arms”, adding that education was a life-long pursuit and their journey did not end after graduating.
“Knowledge is not confined to textbooks. It is a continuous exploration. Cultivate curiosity. Seek wisdom beyond formal education, and remember that true power comes from the ability to learn and adapt throughout your life,” she said.
At the ceremony, retired businessman and philanthropist Douglas Orane and Lieutenant Commander Michael Rodriguez were conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws ( Honoris Causa).
Orane, in his remarks, shared with the graduates how to adjust to the world of work after university, how to recover in life after facing difficulty, and how to keep educating oneself after graduation.
IMPORTANT VALUES
He stressed that the values of honesty and integrity were highly important as “your reputation is like [a] blank paper, and if you mark it with something negative, it will stay with you for a long time”.
As such, he encouraged the graduates to never engage in activities that would damage their reputation.
He continued, saying that punctuality was also another crucial aspect of a life of success.
Orane explained that everyone had the same 24 hours a day but that what set persons apart was how they utilised the time given to them.
In reference to how to recover after facing difficulty, Orane shared that,when he was a boy, he enjoyed building model planes and had a burning desire to become a fighter pilot. However, at the age of 12, he was diagnosed with short-sightedness and had to wear glasses since.
“I bawled living eye water for four hours in the afternoon. I said, ‘This is the end, that’s my career gone’ ... however, what happened? I said, ‘Hmm, let me do something different then since I liked building model planes, [so I] did engineering, and that has defined my life ever since,” he said.
He reasoned that perhaps if he had become a fighter pilot, he might not have been here today as he probably would have died after being sent off to war.
“So what’s the lesson in it for you? You’re going to hit hurdles, you’re going to drop in potholes in your careers, but don’t get worried about it or distracted,” he said, noting that behind every adversity was an opportunity for success.
He further urged the youth to utilise the Internet more to learn about various topics of interest and to engage in reading a wide range of books and newspapers and to have a thirst for knowledge about the happenings of the world.
“You have a wonderful future ahead of you. Make the most of it, starting today,” he charged the graduates.
Orane’s journey was characterised by his unwavering commitment to nurturing the potential of youth, acknowledging them as the architects of the future.
He was commended for his efforts in promoting educational initiatives and empowerment programmes such as the GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme, inviting young second- and third-generation Jamaicans in the diaspora to return home and reconnect with their roots.
After retirement, for over a decade, Orane has dedicated his time and service to mentoring five first- and second-form students each year.
Rodriguez, as a cadet in his former years, represented Jamaica internationally and raised the flag on Independence Day in 1962. Joining the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard in 1970, he rose to the rank of executive officer, contributing as a technical adviser on maritime law.
In 1991, Rodriguez became the first Jamaican chief executive officer of the Jamaica Maritime Training Institute, later renamed the Caribbean Maritime University.